Whisenhunt's focus on playoffs, not jobs

SAN DIEGO – A public relations employee for the San Diego Chargers began Ken Whisenhunt’s interview session by telling reporters that the offensive coordinator would not be answering questions regarding reports that he had three interviews scheduled for NFL head coaching jobs this week.

Whisenhunt

But of course, that’s the first question Whisenhunt was asked. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Whisenhunt has an interview with the Detroit Lions to discuss that team’s head coaching vacancy on Thursday, followed by interviews with Tennessee on Friday and Cleveland on Saturday.

The interviews with Detroit and Tennessee likely will take place in San Diego, with the Cleveland interview likely to take place in Denver.

“I understand the process and I appreciate the interest,” Whisenhunt told reporters. “But I just want to make sure everyone understands my focus is on the game on Sunday.”

Asked how he can focus on game preparation for San Diego’s AFC divisional round playoff matchup with the Denver Broncos with three looming interviews for head coaching vacancies over the next three days, Whisenhunt had this to say: “It’s not hard. This is a playoff game. I think that’s where the focus has been. Anything outside of that is really secondary.”

Whisenhunt is considered the front-runner for the Lions' head coaching vacancy. The Lions seek an offensive-minded coach to help take talented quarterback Matthew Stafford to the next level. Whisenhunt already helped elevate the level of play with Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh, Kurt Warner in Arizona and now Philip Rivers in San Diego.

Whisenhunt also was a teammate of Lions general manager Martin Mayhew during his playing days for the Washington Redskins.